Gas pressure regulator having low pressure shut-off means

Abstract

There is disclosed herein a gas pressure regulator having valve means for stopping the flow of gas downstream through the regulator when the pressure of the incoming gas is lower than a predetermined acceptable value even though acceptable pressure is subsequently restored, and a unique method and means, generally not available for use by unauthorized persons, adapted to be manually operated for resetting the valve means after it is determined that the pressure of the gas flowing to the inlet of the regulator has returned to said predetermined acceptable value. Provision is made for monitoring the flow of gas through the regulator by an auxiliary valve and valve seat and stopping the flow of gas through the regulator in the event that the operation of the valve means is prevented from functioning properly by interference caused by a foreign substance between the pressure regulating orifice and the main valve seat, and also stopping the flow of gas through the regulator when the pressure of the gas is higher than said predetermined acceptable pressure. The novel method disclosed herein involves applying suction to the atmosphere side of the regulator diaphragm to reactivate a shut-off regulator.

I claim: 
     
       1. A gas pressure regulator comprising a housing having an inlet means, outlet means and a wall separating said inlet means and said outlet means; a diaphragm in the housing forming a gas chamber communicating with said outlet means and a chamber open to the atmosphere; an orifice sleeve extending between and communicating with said inlet means and said outlet means; means for mounting said orifice sleeve in said wall for axial sliding movement relative to said wall, said orifice sleeve having an orifice, an upstream valve seat and a downstream valve seat; a main valve; means operated by said diaphragm for moving said main valve toward and from said downstream valve seat of the orifice sleeve to regulate the flow of gas to said gas chamber and outlet means; and means including a safety valve slidably mounted in said orifice sleeve to engage said upstream valve seat to shut off the flow of gas through said orifice sleeve to said gas chamber and outlet means when the pressure of the gas in said gas chamber falls below a predetermined acceptable pressure. 
     
     
       2. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there are means extending between said main valve and said safety valve for controlling the operation of the latter. 
     
     
       3. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there is an auxiliary valve seat on the inner end of said orifice sleeve and means including a stationary auxiliary valve positioned to be engaged by said auxiliary valve seat to shut off the flow of gas to the orifice sleeve when the pressure of the gas in said gas chamber exceeds a predetermined acceptable high pressure value, and resilient means for normally urging said auxiliary valve seat away from said auxiliary valve. 
     
     
       4. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said orifice sleeve is slidably mounted in a bushing which is supported in an aperture in said dividing wall. 
     
     
       5. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which said orifice sleeve is slidably mounted in a bushing which is supported in an aperture in said dividing wall and in which said bushing has an inner end closure and said auxiliary valve is supported on said closure. 
     
     
       6. The invention as defined in claim 5 in which said bushing has a lateral passage through which fuel gas may pass to said orifice sleeve when said auxiliary valve seat is disengaged from said auxiliary valve. 
     
     
       7. The invention as defined in claim 1 in which there are resilient means urging said safety valve into engagement with said upstream valve seat which comprises a spring interposed between said auxiliary valve and abutment means in said orifice sleeve. 
     
     
       8. The invention as defined in claim 7 in which a second resilient means comprises a spring interposed between said abutment means in said sleeve and said inner end closure of said bushing. 
     
     
       9. The invention as defined in claim 8 in which said bushing with said orifice sleeve, safety valve and both said resilient means comprises a unit insertable as such in an aperture in said dividing wall.